Watch

Thewatch was a real beauty. A brand new gifted by Manu’s Canadian Uncle. A distant relative by blood ties but a near one in the matters of heart. That night Manu kept on staring at the watch for a long time. It was Sparkle’s. A company never heard by him before but as every foreign gifted item holds an immense value in the eyes of Indians so this one too belonged to that group. Manu felt its steel strap, it was solid, and then he deeply studied the chrome dial. It took his heart away. Manu slept fitfully that night waiting for the dawn to arrive soon, so he could wear his lovable watch to the office.
In the morning, Sun entered Manu’s bedroom through the window. He saw the watch and got mesmerised by its beauty. But Alas! he could not posses it. Sun became senti for the watch and he wanted to mourn its loss. So he hid himself behind the clouds. Clouds were astonished at the weird feelings of the Sun.
“He’s an emotional fool,” Clouds whispered to themselves. “Let’s see what’s all this about a simple watch.” And they took a view at the watch. The Clouds’ heart too took the shape of Sun’s for the watch. They wanted it. The love for the watch made the Clouds heart overwhelmed and they cried. The earth received Cloud’s tears. It was surprised at the behavior of the Sun and Clouds. She came to know through the winds that there is a watch, which has taken the heart of the Sun and Clouds. Earth laughed at the stupidity of  both. Then she rose to look at the watch. Her heart beated furiously at the sight of the watch. And an earthquake made its presence felt. Manu woke up with a startle. It took him some time to realize that an earthquake has come.
He looked at the watch. It was safe and sound, sitting majestically on his bed by his side. He took a sigh of relief. And on seeing rain outside he became disappointed.
“I won’t wear it today. The rain might spoil it,” he decided.
Then as he rose to fulfill the missions of the morning, he decided to take off from the office. “Many robberies are occurring in our locality. I will take off today, lest the watch would get stolen.” He sat in front of the watch. He switched on the television but his eyes urged him to let them see the watch. And Manu switched off the television and trained his eyes on the watch. The Clouds took a stolen look and their hearts roared loudly on seeing the watch. Manu felt frightened. His stomach urged him to put a few things into it. But his heart stopped him and he kept on looking at the watch deeply immersing himself into its beauty. After a few hours his eyes were tired and they closed for a while and when Sleep took over him he could not know after all Sleep too wanted to have a view of the watch undisturbed.
God was disturbed by all the happenings in his kingdom. He sent Death to see whether a devil needs a lesson. And Death at once started to take a round of the Earth. And as Death was passing through the window of Manu’s house, his eyes were attracted to the beauty of the watch. He peeped inside. He saw Manu in deep siesta. Death’s eyes widened on seeing the watch.
“What a beauty?” Death whispered to himself.
Death took an eyeful view of the watch. The steel strap and the shining dial of the watch took his heart.
“I want it.” Death talked to itself in desperation.
Death knew there was one hindrance to his possession of the watch. The man sleeping by its side. Death’s eyes smiled. He knew how to get to the watch. Death sneaked inside the flat. He saw for a moment at Manu’s youth. Then he saw watch and he knew what to do? Death put hand on the heart of Manu. The heart shuddered and Death laughed. Then Manu became still. He found himself standing by the side of  Death. Death took the watch and neatly wore it on his wrist.
Manu saw his body. The he looked at Death. Death was smiling and appreciating the beauty of watch through eyes. Manu’s lips played a soft smile. He knew the watch was worth the efforts of Death but he felt sorry for himself too for he could not wore it for a single day.
And then his alarm clock pulled him out of his sleep. Manu woke up scared. His hands patted his body. He saw out of the window, it was raining. He laughed and took a quick shower and without any thought wore the watch without the fear of rain.--- © Atul Sharma.